Troop Meetings
Meeting Activities
Games and skill builders for troop meetings, indoors or outside as the light fades.
Planning a meeting every week is hard, and the best ones are fun and get everyone involved. Use these as a starting point: pick one or two that fit the night and keep it hands-on. This list will keep growing. When a patrol runs something that works, send it in so future leaders can use it too.
Before you head outside after dark
Follow the Guide to Safe Scouting: use the buddy system, keep adults present, walk the area for hazards in daylight, and make sure every scout has a light. Requirement numbers below are from Scouting America’s December 2025 rank requirements; check scouting.org if they change.
Flashlight Morse Code
Patrols stand at opposite ends of the field and flash short messages to each other in Morse code, then race to decode the other patrol’s message. Start with SOS and three-letter words, then work up to full sentences.
You’ll need
- A flashlight for each patrol
- A printed Morse code chart for each patrol
- Paper and pencils for decoding
Builds toward: Signs, Signals, and Codes merit badge (Morse code requirement)
Night Compass Course
Before the meeting, an adult or older scout sets out a short bearing-and-distance course, marking each point with a reflector or glow stick. Scouts work in pairs with a compass and headlamp. Fading light forces them to trust the compass instead of eyeballing landmarks.
You’ll need
- Compasses
- Reflectors or glow sticks for each point
- A course card with bearings and distances
- A headlamp for each pair
Builds toward: Second Class 3a (compass) and First Class 4a (orienteering course)
Glow-Stick Capture the Flag
The classic game, played at dusk. Every player wears a glow stick so everyone stays visible, and the flags glow too. Walk the field for holes and hazards in daylight first, mark the boundaries clearly, and switch to a walking-only rule once it’s truly dark.
You’ll need
- Glow sticks in two team colors
- Two glowing flags
- Cones or glow sticks to mark boundaries
Dusk Constellation Hunt
On a clear evening, scouts use a star chart or sky app to spot the first stars and planets, then a few constellations as the sky darkens. Red lights protect night vision. In fall and winter it’s dark enough right at meeting time.
You’ll need
- Star charts or a sky app
- Red flashlights, or red cellophane over regular ones
Builds toward: Astronomy merit badge 4a (identify 10 constellations)
Night Senses Sound Map
Each scout sits alone, within sight of a buddy, for five quiet minutes with a card that has an X in the middle. They mark every sound they hear by direction and distance. Afterward, compare maps and talk about which animals are active at dusk.
You’ll need
- An index card and pencil for each scout
Builds toward: Nature study and Leave No Trace discussions
Kim’s Game
Lay 15–20 small items on a table and cover them with a cloth. Uncover them for one minute, cover them again, and have each scout write down everything they remember. For a harder round, quietly remove or swap one item and see who notices.
You’ll need
- 15–20 small, varied items
- A cloth or towel
- Paper and pencils
Builds toward: Observation skills for first aid and tracking
Knot Relay
Patrols line up and the leader calls out a knot: square knot, two half hitches, taut-line hitch, bowline or clove hitch. The first scout in each line ties it, an older scout checks it, and the next scout goes. Works indoors or outside under a porch light.
You’ll need
- One rope per patrol
- A post or chair leg for hitches
Builds toward: Scout 4a, Tenderfoot 3a–3c, Second Class 2g and First Class 3b knots
First Aid Scenario Stations
Set up three or four stations, each with a written scenario such as a cut hand, a sprained ankle, a burn, or someone showing signs of shock. Patrols rotate through, treat a “victim” acting out the injury, and explain what they’d do next. Older scouts run the stations.
You’ll need
- First aid kits
- Scenario cards
- Face paint for mock injuries (optional)
Builds toward: Tenderfoot 4a first aid
Lashing Challenge
Each patrol gets staves and lashing cord and has to build a tripod, an A-frame, or a small camp gadget that can hold a backpack. Time it, then test it. Teaches square, diagonal and shear lashings.
You’ll need
- Staves or broomsticks
- Lashing cord
- A backpack to test with
Builds toward: First Class 3c–3d lashings and Pioneering merit badge
Knot-and-Skill Steal the Bacon
Two teams line up facing each other, and each player gets a number. A rope sits in the middle. The leader calls a number and a knot, like “3, bowline!” Both players race for the rope, but a point only counts if the knot is tied correctly before the other player tags them.
You’ll need
- A rope or neckerchief
- Space to run safely
Have a favorite meeting activity?
Send it to the Scoutmaster at bsatroop87@hotmail.com and we’ll add it here.